Page 28 of Darkest Before Dawn (His Perfect Darkness #2)

I nara

“I have a surprise for you,” Rex tells me. We’re in a limo, riding to our engagement ball. He’s in a tux, and I’m in the most beautiful gown ever sewn.

“More jewelry?” I’m already wearing a fortune in yellow diamonds. One of the largest and rarest in the world is on display on the necklace around my neck. It’s heavy. Feels like a leash more than anything.

“No. I think you’ll like this surprise.” He holds up a phone. A second later, it lights up, displaying an incoming call from KittyBang.

I grab the phone and answer it. “Mina?”

“Bitch, you got married?”

“Yes.” My laugh is faint, but it is a laugh. It’s so good to hear her voice. “How are you? Are you safe?”

“I’m good. Got your messages. But then he reached out.” The drop in the volume of her voice tells me she means Rex. “Is he there?”

“Yes. But don’t worry. I’m not letting him listen in.” I turn and narrow my eyes at Rex, warning him off. He raises a brow, looking suave in his tux.

“He’s probably recording this call anyway.” Mina doesn’t sound fussed, though. She sounds almost. . . relaxed.

“I won’t let him touch you,” I say.

“You’ve got to tell me what is going on. I go on the run, and next thing I know, you’re marrying the richest man on Earth. And then he’s messaging me and offering me a position in cybersecurity?—”

He what? This is news to me.

“And telling me you need my help tracking down a serial killer. He’s already sent me files, and you know I’d do anything for you?—”

“Mina,” I interrupt, because when she gets like this, her mind racing like a runaway train, she doesn’t take a breath. “Are you saying you’re working for Rex?”

“I haven’t taken the job. But if you vouch for him?—”

“I do. And, yes, I do need your help with. . . everything.”

“Then I’m your kitty. It’s good to hear from you.”

“You too.” I don’t want to stop talking, but the limo has drawn up to the grand building where we’re hosting our ball.

“I’ll be in touch. Strange, but not a stranger.” Before I can say goodbye, she hangs up.

I give the phone back to Rex, noting that it’s a high tech looking model but nondescript. Probably a burner. Mina would approve.

“Did you like your gift?” he purrs, pocketing the burner.

“I did, thank you. I was worried about her. She’s. . .” The closest thing I have to a friend . “Important to me.”

“I figured. You don’t allow many people to get close to you.”

“We’re not close?—”

He looks at me, and I squirm under his all-knowing gaze.

I feel like I’m in therapy, getting dissected.

“All right. She’s. . . a friend.” It’s hard for me to say that word.

I’ve taken pains to keep anyone I care about at arm’s length and out of the danger zone.

“We’ve never met in person, though.” I felt safer connecting with Mina because she’s also the private, standoffish sort.

“You can change that. When you’re ready.” He picks up my hand and kisses my knuckles. My heart warms. I like the idea of having friends. It’s too dangerous to let someone in for long, but it’s a nice thought, and the fact that Rex supports it makes me happy.

“What about you?” I ask. “Do you have any close friends?

“Define ‘close.’ Define ‘friend.’”

Good grief. Rex needs therapy as much as I do. We’ve both isolated ourselves.

I remember an article I read on friendship. “Someone you could get a beer with. Someone you’d allow to watch your puppy.” The article said the closest friend would be someone who could do both.

“I drink whiskey. And I have staff overseeing my kennels.”

I roll my eyes. “You know what I mean.” I file away the fact that Roy Manor does have a dog house. Next time Rex annoys me, I’ll tell him to go sleep there.

“I don’t have friends; I have business partners. I drink with them.”

“No one you’d go bowling with?” I tease. “Like St. James?”

“St. James and I have similar interests, but I’m not interested in him being present for my preferred hobby.”

His dark eyes heat, and so do my cheeks. I press my thighs together, feeling the flush travel downwards as I think about the private room at Empire where Rex indulged in his preferred hobby with me.

The limo rounds a corner and pulls up to the front of the building. There’s a crowd in front, held back from the red carpet by a long line of security.

“We’re here.” I square my shoulders like a soldier facing a line of enemy troops.

“Hey. Look at me.” He doesn’t use his dom voice, but he captures my full attention all the same. “I’m going to get you through this. We’ll go inside, talk to some people, and drink champagne. None of this matters.”

Staring into his beautiful face, I can almost believe him.

A shadow falls over the car door. A whole troop of security guards surround the limo, ready to escort us inside.

“One more thing.” Rex doesn’t seem to care that people are waiting for us and pulls a black velvet jewelry box out of his pocket. “You need this.”

I know what’s inside. A rock the size of Antarctica.

But when he opens the box, I’m still dazzled.

The ring is somehow delicate despite blazing with multiple gems. The center jewel is yellow, and it’s surrounded by smaller diamonds and gold and shaped into a vine-like pattern. There’s a floral quality to the design.

“What’s this?” I touch the large yellow stone.

“It’s a rare diamond. The color reminded me of jasmine.” My favorite flower.

“Nadia will approve.” I let him slide the ring onto my finger. The weight of it makes things feel more real.

“Ready, wife?”

I nod and let him guide me into the fray.

An hour later, I’m lurking in the shadows near the grand white columns that line the huge hall. A wallflower at my own party.

Nadia and her team outdid themselves. The ballroom looks like a garden. Huge, wild bouquets with plenty of yellow jasmine adorn the space. The Roy crest is everywhere. There are huge white plinths topped with statues of roaring lions, for the gods’ sake. It’s a spectacle, but somehow it all works.

I let Rex steer me around, greeting people. He knows everyone. He’s pretty popular for someone who claims to have no friends.

Unfortunately, I understand why he wanted a detailed description of what I meant by ‘friend.’ Everyone here wants a piece of him because he’s wealthy and powerful. Not because he’s Rex.

Now he’s holding court in the middle of the room, sipping whiskey and speaking in a booming voice loud enough to draw the attention of everyone in the room. I have a feeling he’s doing it on purpose to let me slip away for a moment.

Gods, I hope I don’t have to get used to occasions like this.

I’m overwhelmed, surrounded by all the glitz and glamor of New Rome’s upper crust. Fortunately, unless I’m on Rex’s arm, no one notices me.

If it weren’t for the bodyguards shadowing my every move, I could slip away entirely.

For now, standing behind a plinth is the best I can do.

I think I’ve successfully hidden when Hamish appears at my side.

“Detective,” he greets me.

I’m not happy that I’m found, but at least it’s Hamish and not the chief of police. “Please, call me Inara. You might as well. We’re practically related now.”

“Inara, then. Welcome to the family. You look lovely.”

“Thank you.” My dress is custom, a shimmering gold fabric that makes my skin glow. Even I can admit that I look like a goddess. If I have to be stuck in a room full of the rich and famous, I’m grateful that Nadia’s team and the designers dressed me in haute couture that feels like armor.

“Can I get you anything?”

“It’s a party, Hamish. You can relax and enjoy yourself.”

His mustache twitches. “Like you are?”

I let the fake smile slip from my face to give him a smirking grimace. “It’s not really my type of party.”

“Understandable. Myself, I’d rather have a cup of tea and a good book to read by the fire.”

“That sounds lovely,” I say. “I’m guessing Roy Manor has a beautiful library?”

“Several, in fact. I’m looking forward to giving you the full tour one day.”

Across the ballroom, a tall, elegant figure materializes between the columns. I recognize that gray suit anywhere. St. James turns as if he senses me looking at him and raises his drink in a silent toast.

“Huh,” I mutter, and when Hamish inclines his head, I explain, “I didn’t realize he’d be here.”

“You’ll find that Rex’s parties have quite a diverse guest list. But if Sebastian St. James wants to attend a gathering, the lack of invitation won’t stop him.”

Sebastian. I make a note of his first name. “He’s all right.” I wait for Hamish to disagree, and when he doesn’t, a thought occurs to me. “Hamish, the morning I left Roy Manor. . .” And by that I mean the morning he helped me escape.

My train of thought slows. I can’t believe I’m about to ask this, but I have a gut feeling and have to know. “Did you call St. James and ask him to help me?”

Hamish keeps a blank face. I bet he’s amazing at poker. “Now, what makes you think that, I wonder?”

“I know you let me out.” I’m not asking him to admit that, so I plow on. “But you knew Rex would be after me. That I’d need someone on my side, someone strong enough to stand up to him.”

I knew St. James was a successful businessman, but now that I know he’s part of the most powerful gang in New Rome, it makes sense that he’s able to face off with Rex. He might be the only one who can.

“I’m afraid I can neither confirm nor deny your suspicions. Although I can compliment you on your deductive skills. It seems you’re as talented a detective as they say.”

“Thanks.” I flush at the high praise. I was right.

Hamish was the one to alert St. James that I was alone in the city and needed an ally.

“I guess, I was wondering. . . how did you know you could trust him?” My instincts say that St. James is dangerous, but I can trust him.

But my instincts thought that about Rex, too.

I guess I’m looking for proof that my instincts aren’t fucked.